Box Score

POUGHKEEPSIE, NY (February 14, 2009) -- On senior day at the Athletics and Fitness Center, all four of Vassar's seniors had big games and the Brewers kept their Liberty League playoff hopes alive with a resounding 82-55 victory over Union Saturday afternoon. Seniors Matt Nunn (Lower Gwynedd, PA/Abington Friends) and Brian Butterworth (Hamilton, MA/Hamilton-Wenham) each scored 20 points, Joe Davis (East Amherst, MA/St. Joseph's Institute) added 17 points and eight rebounds, and point guard Lenny Holt (Watertown, MA/Watertown) ran the offense with six assists, six steals and five rebounds.

Vassar won its second league game in two days, and improves to 9-13 on the season, and 4-7 in the Liberty League. Hobart's victory over Clarkson on Saturday afternoon leaves Vassar one game out of the final Liberty League playoff spot. Union is now 12-10 overall and 5-7 in the league.

Vassar's four seniors dominated the first half, combining to score Vassar's first 31 points before freshman Caleb McGraw (Sitka, AK/Mount Edgecombe) punctuated the half with a three-pointer to put Vassar up 34-22 at the break.

Davis and Nunn led Vassar in that opening frame, combining for 25 points on 8-of-12 shooting. Union was able to stay within striking distance by making six three-pointers, but the Dutchmen managed only two two-point field goals in the first half. Davis in particular, sparked Vassar's first half offense with 15 points and all-out hustle. He skied for a tip-in in traffic with 11:39 to play, had a rim-rocking fastbreak dunk on the next play, and scored a deep leaning three-pointer as the shot clock expired later in the half.

In their first meeting on January 30, Union fought back from a 19-point first half deficit to force Vassar into overtime before the Brewers finally won 87-80. In this game, however, Vassar continued to pour on the offense to start the second half and never gave Union a chance to come back. The Brewers started with a 13-5 run capped by a Holt layup that put Vassar on top 47-27 less than three minutes into the second half.

Nunn continued his sharp shooting with 10 second half points. Holt had five assists in the second half, and Davis broke out for another slam. Eleven of Vassar's nineteen second half field goals were assisted. Union displayed a deep bench that scored 21 of its 55 points, but the Dutchmen never led in the game.

Vassar took its largest lead of the game with 5 minutes left when Butterworth's fourth three of the game made it 77-45 with 3:43 to play. Butterworth scored 16 of his 20 points in the second half, and is now just 31 points short of 1,000 in his career.

Nick Ciresi (Kings Park, NY/Kings Park) led Union with 16 points on six of ten shooting including four of six from behind the ark. Three other Union players had eight points each.